MassRobotics Healthcare Robotics Catalyst Program Opens Functions for Cohort 3, Offered by Festo, Mitsubishi Electrical Automation, Novanta, and MITRE


MassRobotics, Festo, Mitsubishi Electrical Automation, Novanta, and MITRE are calling on startups within the healthcare robotics house to use to the third Healthcare Robotics Startup Catalyst program 2023-24 and celebrating the tip of their present cohort 2022-23.
This program supplies healthcare startups with the chance to showcase progressive healthcare and robotics options and compete for an opportunity to hitch a world-class accelerator program. This system’s goal is to advance healthcare robotics corporations by offering the connections, steering, and assets they should develop and succeed. The chosen startups shall be guided by senior-level mentors from organizing corporations and supported with connection to potential prospects, buyers, suppliers, advertising and extra. Moreover, the chosen startups will discover assist inside MassRobotics’ Healthcare Robotics Working Group, comprised of a U.S. cluster of company, educational, authorities, startup, and enterprise capital volunteers.
The healthcare trade is quickly evolving, and robotics has develop into an integral a part of trendy healthcare. With the rising demand for healthcare providers and technological developments, the healthcare robotics market presents important alternatives for enhancing affected person care, decreasing healthcare prices, and rising effectivity throughout varied areas of healthcare.
This system is open to early-stage startups with a healthcare, robotics, AI, or IoMT focus throughout the scope of the problem. Chosen startups will obtain entry to key gamers and collaborating corporates, innovation facilities, and engineering groups. Moreover, they may obtain introductions to buyers, contract manufacturing corporations, and suppliers. They can even have entry to loaners, free parts, and prototyping and testing assets. This system additionally consists of media and advertising assist, in addition to potential participation in commerce exhibits with mentor organizations.

This can be a distinctive alternative for healthcare startups to achieve beneficial assets, mentorship, and assist from a number of the most revered and profitable corporations within the healthcare and robotics industries. Functions open on Could 11, 2023 and shut on September 9, 2023. Cohort 3 shall be introduced on September 22, 2023.
Candidates from world wide can profit from the assist of this system to attain their particular milestones. Cohort 1 and a couple of individuals have achieved important milestones via this system, together with however not restricted to, funding, gross sales, signing a worldwide partnership and territory expansions.
In June 2022, MassRobotics, Festo, Mitsubishi Electrical, Novanta and MITRE launched the decision for purposes for the second Startup Catalyst Program to advance healthcare robotics corporations world wide, offering the networking alternatives, steering, and assets they should develop and succeed. This system centered on startups within the areas of scientific care, public security, laboratory, provide chain automation, out-of-hospital care, high quality of life, in addition to continuity of labor and training, and coaching and assist for healthcare professionals. This system ended with a showcase presentation on the Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston, whereby all individuals shared their successes all through this system.

Greater than 40 corporations utilized from world wide. The mentor corporations chosen seven to hitch this system. The collaborating startups accomplished spectacular milestones, as detailed beneath:
Acumino Inc. (USA)
Acumino proudly declares its profitable completion of the MassRobotics Healthcare Catalyst program, the place the corporate showcased its distinctive capacity to coach robots for complicated healthcare duties. These duties included TMS mind scanning, hazardous waste removing, and lab tech automation, demonstrating Acumino’s experience throughout a number of healthcare use circumstances. A big achievement stemming from this program is a collaboration between Acumino, Mitsubishi Electrical, and Festo, with the shared purpose of revolutionizing pathology labs via next-generation robotic options. This collaboration capitalizes on the collective experience and assets of all three corporations to handle the urgent challenges arising from the worldwide scarcity of lab technicians. The answer shall be powered by Acumino’s next-generation robotic coaching platform, Mitsubishi Electrical’s robotic arms, and Festo’s finish effectors, with healthcare advisory offered by Dr. Michael Roehrl. The mission goals to allow robots to function pathology lab gadgets in a fashion that surpasses present approaches by way of pace, security, cost-effectiveness, and accuracy. “We’re thrilled to collaborate with Mitsubishi Electrical, Festo and Dr. Roehrl on this groundbreaking mission,” expressed Patrick Jarvis, CEO of Acumino. “Collectively, we have now a singular alternative to dramatically enhance the usual of healthcare worldwide.”
Robotic on Rails (USA)
Founder and CEO Chase Olle, whereas working with Festo’s mentorship within the Healthcare Robotics Catalyst Program, has produced an progressive robotic work cell often known as “RNA on Rails” in collaboration with HelixNano. Throughout this system and supported by Nuzha Yakoob, Head of Expertise & Innovation, Olle labored with HelixNano for six months on a pilot mRNA manufacturing suite, which proved profitable, resulting in the growth of the mission to a multi-robot manufacturing work cell. As a part of this growth, Robotic on Rails (RoR) will ship 4 machines to HelixNano throughout the subsequent eight months. Moreover, the 8-channel DHOI pipette developed by Festo Expertise Engineering Middle will change the system’s present liquid dealing with. This new suite will cowl a lot of the manufacturing pipeline and is predicted to extend manufacturing by six occasions. The RoR mission, beneath Olie’s management, delivered a collection of latest options, together with robotic replenishment and product refrigeration, which have introduced them one step nearer to attaining their purpose of turning into the brand new automation normal for all times sciences laboratories.
ABLE Human Movement (Spain)
ABLE Human Movement is a startup from Barcelona that creates exoskeletons for individuals with bodily disabilities. The corporate has accomplished scientific trials throughout Europe and obtained pre-orders for its new technology of accessible exoskeletons. ABLE has submitted the Technical File to obtain CE-mark regulatory approval within the coming months. The Catalyst program helped ABLE refine its enterprise mannequin, evaluation operational prices, and adapt the worth proposition for every stakeholder. Nuzha Yakoob, Head of Expertise & Innovation at FESTO, mentored the workforce and helped to make connections to US buyers for upcoming funding rounds. ABLE plans to develop its US investor community to succeed in its fundraising goal for 2024. Moreover, Yakoob linked the workforce with related part suppliers to enhance the exoskeleton’s capabilities for residence use, enabling sufferers to stroll in real-life conditions and revel in social actions. ABLE expects to launch the brand new residence product in early 2026. Total, ABLE is on a mission to enhance mobility and independence for everybody with bodily disabilities.
Andromeda Robotics (Australia), the progressive startup specializing in humanoid robots, has skilled exceptional success because of its participation within the Healthcare Robotics Startup Catalyst program. Via strategic collaboration with Novanta, a key program companion, Andromeda achieved important developments within the social AI and performance of their first prototype, Abi, an endearing and versatile companion humanoid robotic. As a direct final result of its collaboration within the Catalyst program, Andromeda efficiently secured introductions to numerous healthcare services in Melbourne (Australia) and Boston (USA). These introductions will present invaluable alternatives for Abi to bear complete trials and display its distinctive capacity to help aged residents in sustaining their independence. The optimistic suggestions and real-world outcomes garnered from these trials will cement Andromeda’s place as a number one supplier of cutting-edge robotic options within the healthcare sector. As well as, Andromeda’s pursuit of funding in the course of the Catalyst program has seen notable progress, with the seed spherical nonetheless ongoing within the first half of the 12 months. This system’s assist in facilitating introductions to early-stage enterprise capital buyers has positioned Andromeda favorably for securing the mandatory monetary assets to gasoline its growth and growth plans. Andromeda Robotics is now poised to capitalize on the momentum gained via the Catalyst program. With a strong basis of profitable trials, sturdy connections with healthcare services, and ongoing efforts to safe funding, Andromeda is actively pursuing partnerships with native aged-care properties in Boston to increase the attain and affect of their exceptional humanoid robots.
Limitless Robotics (Israel)
Through the Catalyst Program, Limitless Robotics efficiently continued to develop Gary, a groundbreaking multifunctional robotic that leverages cutting-edge know-how to empower medical groups worldwide in delivering distinctive care and repair to sufferers. Powered by Ra-Ya, a state-of-the-art superior platform, Gary has versatile capabilities that help medical professionals in varied duties, amplifying their effectivity and effectiveness, whether or not it’s supporting affected person care or streamlining administrative processes. The open-source nature of Ra-Ya has additionally enabled software program builders worldwide to contribute and develop Gary’s capabilities, fostering a community-driven strategy to robotic healthcare. Limitless Robotics envisions a world the place each medical facility has entry to superior robotics, making certain the very best high quality of look after sufferers globally.
Maestro Surgical Robotics (Taiwan)
With a globally patented and paradigm-shifting movement management know-how and proprietary AI-driven medical imaging algorithm, the Shanghai-based Maestro Surgical is a surgical robotic platform firm able to creating tailored precision robotic arms for particular procedures. The corporate’s first product beneath growth is a backbone surgical procedure robotic for lumbar decompression; the engineering mannequin can do each pedicle screw placement and laminectomy, a mission-critical perform that almost all backbone surgeons need.
Mentored by Novanta Inc. (NASDAQ:NOVT) all through the MassRobotics Healthcare Robotic Catalyst Program 2022, Maestro Surgical is proud to announce that it has completed greater than the unique purpose set in the beginning of this system. The corporate has optimized its robotic arm with improved dexterity and accuracy, designed a surgeon’s console with minimal latency, deep-trained its imaging algorithm with giant units of actual affected person information, partnered with a number one ultrasonic orthopedic knife firm, and is closing its Pre-A financing spherical.
Zeta Surgical (USA)
Zeta Surgical, a digital surgical procedure firm, has accomplished its participation within the 2023 MassRobotics Healthcare Catalyst program, in cooperation with MITRE. Throughout this system, the corporate finalized the event of the Zeta Cranial Navigation system and submitted its 510(okay) software to the FDA. Concurrently, Zeta Surgical initiated its first-in-human scientific trial, a big step in its progress. As well as, the corporate has launched a brand new initiative in London, centered on the event of ZetaFUS, an ultrasound-based system for drug supply. This growth signifies Zeta Surgical’s ongoing dedication to enhancing the accuracy, security, and accessibility of image-guided procedures.

“We’re very honored to have three extra trade companions – Novanta, Mitsubishi Electrical, and MITRE – be a part of us for cohort 2 of this program, sharing their wealthy expertise and experience within the healthcare house with our chosen startups, offering devoted mentoring and steering all through this system. It’s with new trade companions that we will develop our program, rising the variety of startups we choose in addition to increasing the scope of this system. We might additionally prefer to acknowledge our program supporters, a particular because of Dr. Kamran Manzoor and Dr. Michael Roerl for his or her untiring assist and steering with Acumino,” stated Nuzha Yakoob, the Head of Expertise and Innovation at Festo.
“The Healthcare Robotics Startup Catalyst program is a connecting platform between startups and companies for leveraging progressive Robotics know-how to futuristic automation options within the healthcare trade. It’s a nice alternative to work with high chosen startups and a community of specialists for efficient product growth and environment friendly system deployment,” stated William Nguyen, Ph.D., growth supervisor at Mitsubishi Electrical Automation, Inc.
“We’re thrilled to function technical mentors to the startup founders creating the subsequent technology of healthcare robotics. Working with these good minds provides us beneficial insights into how we will greatest assist their progressive efforts. This collaboration is actually energizing and provoking our engineering workforce as we assist them to attain tomorrow’s breakthrough applied sciences,” stated Elliot Helms, Lead Mechatronics Engineer at Novanta.
“It was an exquisite expertise to function an innovator mentor and to see the startups evolve over the course of this system creating out-of-the-box robotic options for the subsequent technology of healthcare. I notably loved mentoring Zeta via their FDA roadmap and was thrilled they may have put that roadmap in movement throughout this cohort. I sit up for the subsequent cohort!,” stated Iris Sherman, the chief in biosecurity and innovation for MITRE.
“We’re thrilled to witness the collaborative efforts of Festo, Mitsubishi Electrical Automation, MITRE, and Novanta as they arrive collectively to assist disruptive startups within the fields of healthcare, life sciences, biotech, and medical gadgets from world wide. This collaboration goals to foster innovation and development in human-care industries, and we’re excited to be part of it,” stated Juan Necochea, Strategic Partnerships, MassRobotics.
Be taught extra about this system right here:
https://www.massrobotics.org/alternatives/healthcare-robotics-catalyst/.
About MassRobotics
MassRobotics is a nonprofit robotics innovation hub whose mission is to assist create and scale the subsequent technology of profitable robotics know-how and linked gadgets corporations by offering progressive entrepreneurs and startups with the workspace and assets they should develop, prototype, take a look at and commercialize their merchandise and options. Whereas MassRobotics originated and is headquartered in Boston, we’re reaching and supporting robotics innovation globally and are working with startups, academia, trade and governments each domestically and internationally.
About Festo
Festo is a worldwide participant and an unbiased family-owned firm with headquarters in Esslingen am Neckar, Germany. Festo has set requirements in industrial automation know-how and technical training ever since its institution, thereby making a contribution to the sustainable growth of the atmosphere, the financial system, and society. The corporate provides pneumatic and electrical automation know-how to 300,000 prospects of manufacturing unit and course of automation in over 35 industries. The LifeTech sector with medical know-how and laboratory automation is turning into more and more necessary. The services and products can be found in 176 international locations. With about 20,000 staff in over 250 department workplaces in 61 international locations worldwide, Festo achieved a turnover of round €2.84 billion in 2020. Annually round 8 % of this turnover is invested in analysis and growth. On this studying firm, 1.5 % of turnover is invested in fundamental and additional coaching. Festo Didactic SE is a number one supplier of technical training and coaching and gives its prospects worldwide complete digital and bodily studying options within the industrial atmosphere.
About Mitsubishi Electrical Automation
As one in all many Mitsubishi Electrical automation associates world wide, Mitsubishi Electrical Automation, Inc., is a part of a $40 billion international firm serving all kinds of commercial markets with a household of automation merchandise together with programmable logic controllers, variable frequency drives, operator interfaces, movement management programs, laptop numerical controls, industrial robots, and servo amplifiers and motors. The company philosophy of the corporate features a dedication not solely to offering superior options and repair to Mitsubishi Electrical prospects but additionally to contributing to the area people and making a rewarding work atmosphere for its staff.
About Novanta
Novanta is a number one international provider of core know-how options that give medical and superior industrial unique tools producers a aggressive benefit. We mix deep proprietary know-how experience and competencies in photonics, imaginative and prescient, and precision movement with a confirmed capacity to unravel complicated technical challenges. This allows Novanta to engineer core parts and sub-systems that ship excessive precision and efficiency, tailor-made to our prospects’ demanding purposes. The driving power behind our progress is the workforce of progressive professionals who share a dedication to innovation and buyer success. Novanta’s frequent shares are quoted on Nasdaq beneath the ticker image “NOVT.”
Extra details about Novanta is on the market on the Firm’s web site at www.novanta.com. For added data, please contact Novanta Investor Relations at (781) 266-5137 or InvestorRelations@novanta.com.
About MITRE
MITRE’s mission-driven groups are devoted to fixing issues for a safer world. Via our public-private partnerships and federally funded R&D facilities, we work throughout authorities and in partnership with trade to sort out challenges to the protection, stability, and well-being of our nation.
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